Ecological Health of Sediments Located in the Rochester Embayment, Lake Ontario, NY

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide a preliminary evaluation of benthic macroinvertebrate community health, and thus water quality, within the Rochester Embayment of Lake Ontario. The Rochester Embayment is one of 42 Great Lakes Areas of Concern . The various biological indices utilized suggest that a moderate to severely impacted benthic community exists in portions of the Rochester Embayment of Lake Ontario. Clearly, this study is not conclusive. Field sampling was limited geographically to four sites with three sites located either in or in close proximity to the Genesee River and to the dredge disposal site. Further field sampling is warranted with a sampling design that encompasses a larger, more representative area of the embayment.